Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Narita Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Narita

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,427 in Okinawa versus $1,213 in Narita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,228 in Okinawa versus $1,972 in Narita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,030 in Okinawa versus $2,731 in Narita.

Living in Okinawa is roughly 18% more expensive than in Narita, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Okinawa is 4% above, Narita is 11% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.68 ¥1,512

$5.78 ¥902

67.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.32 ¥6,297

$41.79 ¥6,526

-3.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.94 ¥1,083

$4.47 ¥699

55.26%

Cappuccino

$4.18 ¥653

$3.15 ¥492

32.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 ¥230

$0.81 ¥127

81.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥158

$0.74 ¥116

36.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 ¥313

$2.05 ¥320

-2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 ¥697

$3.17 ¥495

40.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 ¥249

$1.27 ¥199

25.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.20 ¥344

$1.76 ¥275

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.98 ¥621

$3.64 ¥569

9.34%

Eggs

$1.81 ¥282

$2.04 ¥319

-11.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.99 ¥2,809

$12.07 ¥1,885

49.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ¥789

$6.11 ¥954

-17.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.90 ¥3,577

$14.57 ¥2,275

57.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 ¥583

$5.89 ¥920

-36.67%

Banana (1kg)

$2.78 ¥434

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ¥359

$2.91 ¥454

-20.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 ¥823

$4.18 ¥653

26.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.45 ¥382

$2.71 ¥424

-9.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ¥394

$2.73 ¥426

-7.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 ¥211

$1.28 ¥199

5.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ¥120

$0.83 ¥129

-7.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ¥614

$3.80 ¥593

3.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 ¥1,016

$6.29 ¥982

3.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 ¥306

$1.79 ¥280

9.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 ¥539

$2.12 ¥331

62.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.46 ¥229

$1.50 ¥234

-2.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.1 ¥10.6K

$59.0 ¥9,220

15.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.94 ¥615

$3.18 ¥497

23.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.59 ¥560

$1.64 ¥257

118.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.87 ¥1,854

$21.25 ¥3,318

-44.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥177

$1.07 ¥167

5.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.9K ¥3.4M

$22.3K ¥3.5M

-1.61%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.4K ¥2.4M

$18.4K ¥2.9M

-16.29%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$165 ¥25.8K

$133 ¥20.7K

24.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.69 ¥4,012

$25.26 ¥3,945

1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.8 ¥8,558

$29.67 ¥4,634

84.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.0 ¥11.6K

$53.5 ¥8,359

38.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$56.5 ¥8,822

Cinema Ticket

$12.50 ¥1,952

$11.53 ¥1,801

8.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$345 ¥53.9K

$646 ¥100.9K

-46.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,827 ¥909.9K

$14.8K ¥2.3M

-60.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ¥8,070

$62.9 ¥9,820

-17.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.12 ¥3,766

$33.28 ¥5,197

-27.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 ¥12.7K

$63.1 ¥9,848

28.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 ¥15.0K

$103 ¥16.1K

-6.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 ¥64.2K

$520 ¥81.2K

-20.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 ¥51.8K

$342 ¥53.4K

-2.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 ¥134.8K

$1,088 ¥170.0K

-20.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 ¥108.3K

$855 ¥133.6K

-18.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,703 ¥1.4M

$3,393 ¥529.8K

156.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,200 ¥187.4K

$2,030 ¥317.1K

-40.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,861 ¥290.6K

$1,296 ¥202.4K

43.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.23

2.12

5.19%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Okinawa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Narita: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Okinawa and $520 in Narita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Okinawa pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Okinawa vs $42.00 in Narita. Groceries flip the comparison at $337 vs $297, with Narita cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Okinawa vs Narita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Narita is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 44% higher in Okinawa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Okinawa versus $520 in Narita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Narita runs roughly 15% less than in Okinawa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $345 in Okinawa versus $646 in Narita. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,213 in Narita versus $1,427 in Okinawa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Narita but tight or insufficient in Okinawa. The gap between the two cities makes Narita the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Okinawa and Narita are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Narita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Okinawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.